Pitcher Clay Hensley has retired, James Larken Smith of KFFE reports. Hensley, 34, spent seven seasons in the big leagues, pitching for the Padres, Marlins, and most recently the Giants in 2012. Over 517 career innings, Hensley posted an even 4.00 ERA with 317 strikeouts.

Last year, Hensley spent time in Triple-A with the Louisville Bats (Reds) and Nashville Sounds (Brewers), and also pitched with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League. He had been trying to get back to the big leagues with the Nationals in spring training. Though Hensley didn’t allow a run, he served up five hits and four walks while striking out three in 4 1/3 innings. The Nationals released him in March 20.

As first reported by beat writer Bill Ladson of MLB.com, the Nationals have signed right-handed reliever Clay Hensley to a minor league contract with a formal invitation to major league spring training.

Hensley posted a 2.16 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 75 innings for the Marlins in 2010 and he won a World Series ring in 2012 with the Giants. But he spent the entire 2013 season in either Triple-A or independent ball and is highly doubtful to find a spot in the Nats’ talented bullpen for the start of the 2014 campaign.

Hensley, 34, owns a 4.00 career ERA and 1.37 career WHIP in 517 major league innings.

I’ve always been confused by the notion that mediocre players somehow deserve extra credit for being on championship teams, which is a fairly prevalent cliche in all sports.

You’ll see a random role player referred to as “a winner” all the time thanks to his having great teammates–count the ringzzz and all that–but this note about Dusty Baker and the Reds’ bullpen depth from John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer takes it to another level:

Baker looked up that roster board in his office. “You’ve a guy up there that pitched in the World Series last year and a guy who almost threw a perfect game on as non-roster players.”

Baker was referring Clay Hensley, who was on the Giants last year, and Armando Galarraga, who just missed a perfect game two years ago.

Clay Hensley had a 4.62 ERA for the Giants last season, allowing 80 baserunners in 51 innings, so the idea that his pitching in the World Series somehow makes him a better player seems absurd. Oh, and also: Clay Hensley did not pitch in the World Series. Or any of the Giants’ playoff games. In fact, they left him off the playoff roster entirely, presumably because he didn’t pitch well.